Monday, November 10, 2014

Those
of steadfast mind you keep in peace—in peace because they trust in you. Isaiah26:3 NRSV

Following my devotions, I praised God for the beautiful day.
After my time of meditating on Him, Scripture reading, and prayer, I was in a
happy mood. As I sipped my coffee, I enjoyed the view from my window—golden leaves
fluttered on the dogwood tree with the morning sun shining through. I enjoyed
peace.

The first thing on my to-do list was to choose my insurance
plan for the year during annual open enrollment. I sat down before the computer
by the sunny window expecting to complete my task within a few minutes. I
signed onto the website and filled in my personal information. But, to my
dismay, when I got to the screen where I should have been able to make my
selection, the screen was grayed out, and NO Coverage was already selected for
me. I couldn't advance or go backwards. I had to call the 1-800 number for help.

So, with that I began a series of back-to-back calls to my
insurance provider until I finally got an open line, and then I held for over
an hour before a live person spoke to me. During the 2 ½ hour process (by the
end of which all was resolved), I had time to analyze what was happening to my
peaceful happy mood.

Even though my lovely view from the window had not changed, and
God was still God, my focus shifted. As I held the phone, minute by dreary
minute, unpleasant changes were taking place in my body, and my thoughts were scampering about like the squirrels in the tree.

My heart rate rose.
Tension across my forehead warned that my blood pressure had also risen.
My shoulder ached, and my neck got stiff. I felt aggravated and anxious; all
because my focus shifted from God to an unexpected “glitch”.

Allow me to echo the Apostle Paul:

Wretched
man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? (Romans 7:24)

I think it must be part of our
fallen human condition and this earthly piligrimage to suffer these moods and changing feelings so easily
swayed by circumstances and situations beyond our control. Wouldn’t it be grand
if we Christians could rest in perfect and permanent peace all the time? Living constantly in conformity to our faith
in Him? We have hope.

Daily, moment by moment, as we seek His grace (through
prayer and reflection, Scripture reading and practicing godly virtues), we can
experience His perfect peace in the midst of the realities of life. With our
focus on Him, His peace will be like stepping stones in the raging river of
life.

Monday, November 3, 2014

I’m
happy to introduce to you today Norma Gail.Norma Gail’s debut
Christian novel, Land of My Dreams, released
in April 2014. Her devotionals and poetry have appeared at
ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.”
She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, FaithWriters, and the
New Mexico Christian Novelists. She lives in the mountains of New Mexico with
her husband of 38 years. They have two adult children.

I
hope you enjoy the interview. Be sure to
leave a comment at the end as your entry in our random drawing to win a copy of
Land of My Dreams.

Norma Gail,
please tell us a little about yourself and your writing.

I
began writing poetry and short stories when I was very young and continued all
through my school years, but stopped for a nursing career and to raise my
children. I didn’t begin writing again until I was in my forties, and then only
on rare occasions. It wasn’t until my children were grown that I began to write
seriously. Land of My Dreams is my
first novel.

What inspired
you on your writing journey?

I
feel an intense desire to explain the struggles and challenges that have taught
me the greatest lessons of my Christian life through stories that entertain and
draw the reader in until they become a part of the story.

Do you have a
publishing secret you’d like to share with other writers?

You
need to feel confidant you have found your own voice, but it is important to
listen to what others are telling you. Do the paid critiques, talk to a variety
of people, other authors, editors, and agents. If they are saying some major
changes need to be done to make your book publishable, do them. If you are
serious about your writing you need to be teachable.

What is the most
meaningful truth you hope your readers glean from your writing?

I
want my readers to learn that we have a loving God who can turn even the worst
of trials into blessing. I don’t write light fiction. There are heavy spiritual
lessons to be learned in this story, and the reviews bear that out. I write
very much from the point of view of a Bible study leader. Having led women’s
Bible studies for 19 years, my thinking is deeply scriptural. I want to
communicate the wisdom of God’s word and the blessings of obedience, as well as
the consequences of doing things our own way.

Please tell us
about your new novel.

Land of MyDreams
began as a dream as we prepared for a trip to Scotland for our thirtieth wedding
anniversary. I literally dreamed about a man in a kilt on a misty mountainside
with his bagpipes, and surrounded by sheep. The characters developed as people
who had been hurt by life and questioned a loving God who is personally
involved in their daily lives. Bonny and Kieran are a little older than in some
romances. Both have suffered tremendous loss. It takes time to trust each other
and their relationship is threatened by their inability to leave the past
behind and trust God. They are surrounded by friends who direct them toward the
Lord in loving and pretty straight forward ways.

Here’s the back
cover copy of the book:

Alone and betrayed, American professor,
Bonny Bryant longs for a haven of peace. She accepts a position at a small
Christian college in Fort William, Scotland, craving escape from her painful
past. The passionate love which develops when she meets fellow professor and
sheep farmer, Kieran MacDonell, is something she never anticipated.Kieran harbors a deep anger toward God
in the face of his own devastating grief. When Bonny’s former fiancé reenters
her life, Kieran’s loneliness draws him to a former student.How will Bonny decide between her
rivals? Can they set aside the past to make way for a future, or will it drive
them apart?

Landof My Dreamsspans
the distance between New Mexico’s high desert mountains and the misty Scottish
Highlands with a timeless story of overwhelming grief, undying love, and
compelling faith.

I
can’t wait to get my own copy, Norma Gail.
It sounds intriguing. How can readers contact you on the web?

Land of Dreams is available for purchase on
Amazon.com and BN.com (Barnes & Noble).

In
conclusion, I like to ask my guest authors to share their favorite Scripture
verse.

They are not just idle words for you--they are
your life. De. 32:47 NIV

I first
learned this Scripture when I was a discussion leader in Bible Study
Fellowship. Not only has teaching and leading other women in Bible study been
my passion and ministry for 19 years, it is my source of strength to make it
through every day as I deal with fibromyalgia and other health problems. There
is no life worth living apart from Jesus Christ.

***

Dear Readers, thank you for visiting Write Moments with God. I hope you've enjoyed getting to know Norma Gail as much as I have. If you will leave a comment below (including your email in case you are the winner) we will include your name in the random drawing for a copy of Land of My Dreams. Please comment by Sunday, November 9th. The winner will be announced on the blog on Monday, November 10th. As always, I appreciate you. Blessings!

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

I asked for it and Lou Ann Keiser responded. I asked Readers to share their thoughts upon reading the reflection entitled "We Don't Know What We Don't Know", which posted October 27th.

Lou Ann Keiser is a pastor's wife, mother, and grandmother who lives in the beautiful Basque region of Spain. She loves her Lord and His Word, the Bible. Lou Ann is the author of His Ways, Your Walk and writes a blog entitled "In the Way". I hope you enjoy her meditation.

Two Absolutes in a World of Relativity

“It depends.”

“Find your own truth.”

“It’s neither black nor white.”

“I think . . . .”

“You can’t really know.”

“Everyone has to figure out what’s right for him.”

“Different people see things in different ways.”

Relativity.

Is there really an absolute standard, or is that passé? Is
there unchangeable truth? And is it possible to know it?

We could go on and on about how
wishy-washy the world has become. Years ago, people had clear ideas about right
and wrong and standards of conduct. Today, people make up their own truth. But, how can we be confident that our conscience and gut feelings will lead us rightly?

What is truth
anyway? According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, it is “the real facts about something: the things
that are true.”

It’s fascinating to think about truth as it’s presented
in the Bible. First of all, the Bible claims to be true. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy
word is truth (John 17:17).

Jesus—God in flesh—said, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me(John 14:6). So, Jesus is truth.

God the Father is true. Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just andtrue are thy ways, thou King of saints(Revelation 15:3b). In fact, the Bible says that He can’t
lie: God, that cannot lie,
promised before the world began (from Titus 1:2).

The Holy Spirit is truth. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will
send unto you from the Father, even the
Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me (John 15:26).

The Bible is truth, and God (Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit) is truth. Here, we have two absolutes. The Bible is the
best guide for judging whether things are right and wrong and for judging our own
actions. Do we line up with the standards taught in God’s Word? (Do we even
know what they are?)

I have a challenge for you:read the Gospel of
John. There are 21 chapters. If you were to read only one chapter each day, you'd complete it in three weeks. The Gospel of John is all about Jesus, and many
of its verses are His own Words. Look for:

How does Jesus describe
Himself?

How can you tell Jesus is God?

How did Jesus treat others?

How can a person be born again
(Chapter 3)?

How did people respond to
Jesus?

Why did Jesus die?

What happened after Jesus’
death?

Why is the resurrection so
important to Christian faith?

How many people saw Jesus after
He rose from the dead?

What is Jesus doing today?

I believe that those who read
the book of John with an open heart and an open mind, will find Truth. I offer
this challenge.

Thank you Rose for trusting me
enough to allow me the opportunity to share this.

Photo courtesy of Fay Lamb

Thank all of you who visited Write Moments with God today. I appreciate you. And thank you Lou Ann for sharing this. Lou Ann and I would love to hear from you. Be blessed.

Monday, October 27, 2014

“We don’t know what
we don’t know.” I paused to consider this statement upon hearing it for the umpteenth time last week. It was spoken by news commentators in
reference to the Ebola virus.

Now I suppose it’s a
no-brainer that we don’t know whole vast amounts of knowledge. If we were ignorant of the fact that we didn't know it, then we wouldn't realize that we were ignorant of it. This statement can
seem like some kind of double-talk or a profound theory depending on who’s
saying it or our thoughts and feelings at the moment.

In my opinion, the
bottom line is this:

The knowledge of the
facts can make a difference to one’s actions. Not only that, but also knowledge
of the facts can make a difference between life and death.

It occurred to me
that this is also true in the spiritual realm.

So, how does this “We
don’t know what we don’t know” apply to me as a Christian?

My people are destroyed from lack of
knowledge. "Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my
priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your
children. Hosea 4:6 NIV

The Apostle Paul
writes to Timothy:

Study to show yourself approved to God,
a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 AKJ V

It seems to me then, that the “facts” from a Christian standpoint must be TRUTH. Jesus said it is possible for us to know the truth.
(John 8:32)

You shall seek me, and shall find me:
when you shall seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

Blessed are those who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart. Psalm 119:2 NIV

This is my clumsy
attempt to share with you a little portion of my reflections on this subject. Please feel free to share your thoughts to add to our understanding. Proverbs
tell us “there is safety in the multitude of counselors.”

Mya reading "What will Heaven be Like?" by Kathleen Ruckman

Thank you for
visiting Write Moments with God. I appreciate you. Please visit next week for my monthly author interview and book give-away.

Monday, October 20, 2014

Without communication relationships die. I can’t remember where I first read those words, but they ring true. In fact, I said them this week to a friend about her long distance relationship. Telephone commercials remind us of the importance of staying in touch with our loved ones far away.

Without communication relationships die. I’ve resolved to communicate more frequently with friends through cards and letters—hand-written and mailed. Communication is necessary for healthy relationships.

We know this certainly applies to human relationships, but what about our relationship with God?

We are God’s children, adopted into the family of God. We call the Lord Almighty, our Father. Our relationship with God is the ultimate relationship.

And I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, said the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:18

For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26

Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father". Galatians 4:6

We have a personal relationship with God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But how do we communicate with God? How do we keep the lines of communication open?

We go to Him in prayer.In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Ephesians 3:12Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we many receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need. Hebrews 4:16As with any other intimate relationship, we need to spend quality time together in order to nurture and grow that relationship. Prayer is key to our spiritual relationship. Through prayer I draw close to God and my soul communes with Him.

We can pray anywhere, about anything, at any time. As children of God there is nowhere that we can be that God will not hear us. We can commune with Him in our hearts or speak out loud, kneeling in a quiet place or driving down the highway.

Are you taking advantage of this amazing privilege? Do you want a closer relationship with God? Pray.

And he (Jesus) withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.Luke 5:16

Photo courtesy of Marissa Nicole Photography

Thank you so much for visiting Write Moments with God. I invite you to leave your comments and add to the conversation. I love to hear from you. Click on the little pencil icon or the word "comment" below for a place to write your message. God bless you as you seek a closer relationship with Him.

Monday, October 13, 2014

We will rejoice and be glad. Psalm 118:24 ~ photo courtesy of Google images

One midlife malady I never reckoned with has come to call. It was a long time coming. I’d heard stories about
its insidious ways over the years from friends suffering from it. But since I have six children, with a span of
almost 17 years between the first sons (twins) and the last child, my home was full and busy. An “empty
nest” was nowhere on my radar. Then, the
sneaky intruder moved in a few weeks ago when my youngest child, Robbie, left for college.

At first I didn’t recognize it, calling it simply one
of those transitions I’ve written about recently. I’d heard you need to call these things by
their common name in order to effectively deal with it. Okay, then. Hello, Mr. Empty Nest.

I’m really okay with that. I have enjoyed being the mother
of all my wonderful children and I treasure those growing up years. It’s only appropriate that the children should
grow up and leave the nest. God has blessed us.

But, when I have a momentary lapse into sadness, I
remember Ezra’s words that comforted the children of Israel. God’s people had returned
to Jerusalem from Babylon. The city lay in ruin and they were in despair. (See
Nehemiah 8:1-12)

Do
not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10b

To be fair, I’ve tried to be hospitable to my uninvited
guest and attend with patience and understanding. It’s caused me to think, a
lot, and have lots of conversations with God my Father. It’s at time like these that I praise God for His
promises and I remember who I am as a child of the King.

For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

I'm pleased to report, my youngest son has already come home for visits. When
there is no big football game, Lord willing, he’ll come again. I will make his favorite
meals, give him my full attention, and see for myself that he is learning to
fly.

O
give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.
Psalm 118:29Thanks friends for spending some time with me today. You are a blessing.Now, to announce the winner of Carol Stratton's entertaining debut novel, Lake Surrender. Thanks so much to all of you who visited and commented on last week's interview. Congratulations goes to Pamela Harrison whose name was chosen in the random drawing.

Monday, October 6, 2014

My guest today is author Carol Stratton. We became acquainted through our publisher, Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. I enjoyed reading her insightful devotional, Changing Zip Codes, and now I'm reading her highly entertaining debut novel, Lake Surrender. Would you like a chance to win a copy of Lake Surrenderfor yourself or a friend? All you need to do to enter is leave a comment below concerning this interview, along with your email address, by Saturday, October 11th. I will announce the winner on Monday, October 13th. Participated is limited to U.S. residents. I hope you'll participate. It's easy. Now, enjoy the interview.Thank
you, Carol, for being my guest today.
Please tell us a little about yourself.

I grew up in
Northern California but spent most of my married life moving around in the
Midwest. I am married to a great guy and we have four grown kids and five
grandchildren. I’ve worked as a recreation supervisor, retail and a teacher’s
aide in an autistic classroom. Currently I am working fulltime as a reporter
for a local newspaper.

I got the bug to write in 6th grade when
I was published in our town newspaper, but I put writing away for years.
Finally when my youngest was in middle school, I started going to writing
conferences. Little by little I published articles while I worked on a
children’s novel. That particular novel is still unpublished and has racked up 31
rejections!

A few years ago I meet my publisher, Eddie Jones,
who was looking for devotionals in a niche market. I suggested one called Changing Zip Codes: Finding Community
Wherever You’re Transplanted. That
devotional was published in 2012. A year later I submitted my second manuscript, Lake Surrender, which just came out.

For
you is writing a passion, a calling, or both?

I believe you can be a great writer with a lot of
passion but a calling is necessary to fulfill one’s destiny. I was insecure
when I started out about even admitting I was a writer, so God graciously spoke
to me after my first Christian writing conference, saying, “Pursue joy and
comfort people.” That’s all he said but
I knew he wanted me to write.

What’s
the best thing about writing a book?

Feeling like you have connected with people in a unique
manner and encouraged some readers. I had a reader say my devotional saved her
life when she moved and that made my day.

What
inspired you on your writing journey?

Maybe who
might be a better question. Two writers have really stuck with me. I read all of
Catherine Marshall’s books while a baby Christian and knew I wanted to be a
communicator for Jesus. The second writer, Jan Karon has inspired me because
she started late in life (age 49) and gave up all to pursue her dream. I was the same age when I read her bio and that
encouraged me that it wasn’t too late.

What
was your journey to publication like?

Long and sometimes discouraging. My first book
took 12 years to be published. I’m not sure why I didn’t quit. My husband kept
asking me why not do something with less rejection.

One
piece of writing advice you wish you’d had from the beginning

Do the writing for yourself, not for fame or
approval. Don’t worry if people don’t “get” you.

Share
with us the most meaningful truth you hope your readers glean from your
writing.

I hope people see how intimately involved our God is
with every detail of our lives even when we don’t realize it.

Could
you tell us a little about the book you will be giving away to one of our readers?

My debut novel is about a hot shot editor who has
lost her career, home, and marriage. She takes her two children, one an
autistic son, and moves from the San Francisco Bay Area to Michigan. The only
job she finds is a cook in a Christian camp.
The problem is she can’t cook and doesn’t like religious people. But
through the experience she finds a God who hasn’t forgotten her as her journey
ends where the lake begins.

I’d like to share one
of my favorite Scripture verses in closing. Sometimes promoting a book can be overwhelming, as can life in general, but the
Lord only asks us to stand where we are supposed to stand and face our trials and enemies. He is the one who will fight them.

You need not fight in
this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the LORD on
your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go
out to face them, for the LORD is with you. 2 Chronicles 20:17

Thanks Carol for sharing with us about your writing and your life.

Readers, I appreciate
your visiting Write Moments with God. I
hope you will leave a comment below—which is great encouragement for me and
Carol—and you will be included in the random drawing for her new novel. Become a follower of the blog for an additional entry.

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About Me

What defines me as a person--first and foremost my relationship with Christ. Then I have to say my children. I have six children, three sons and three daughters, whom I love with all my heart. I graduated college wanting to be a writer and a stay at home mom. After my divorce, I became a teacher and the writing became a once in a while thing. I have worked in education for the last 25 years. I've served as an English teacher, French teacher, counselor and librarian. Currently, I'm an adjunct English instructor at a community college. In 2008, I started writing again. Mostly I write about God in my everyday life, how to connect faith and figure out practical applications for Scripture in daily life. God's goodness gives me strength for each day. Let's encourage one another on this blog. And, by the way, I'm a Southerner, born in Georgia, and have lived in Martinez (suburb of Augusta, GA) for the last thirty years.